Arch Manning Faces Scrutiny After Texas Loss, NIL Value Drops $485K

Arch Manning, the Texas Longhorns' starting quarterback and a highly hyped NFL prospect, struggled in his debut as a full-time starter during Texas' 14-7 loss to Ohio State, completing 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Scouts expressed mixed reactions, with some criticizing the overwhelming expectations placed on Manning due to his famous football lineage, while others noted the quality of Ohio State's defense and suggested it was early in his development. Former NFL player Ryan Clark publicly stated that Manning is not a generational talent and highlighted his comparative lack of elite skills relative to other top college quarterbacks, suggesting the high expectations are largely due to his family name rather than proven performance. Despite the disappointing game, Manning remains the highest-valued NIL athlete with a current NIL value of $6.3 million, though this represents potential earnings rather than actual compensation. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has emphasized ongoing support and development for Manning as the team looks to improve in upcoming games. Overall, the combination of high expectations, a challenging first start, and critical expert analysis has led to a reassessment of Manning's immediate NFL prospects and development trajectory.